All conditions are in place for Hungary to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, at precisely the moment when Moscow has placed it in its sights

Wednesday, Apr 2, 2025

HVG

Countries question ICC authority by ignoring warrants for Israeli officials, while others support its jurisdiction over war crimes.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Hungary is the first EU member state to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity, although Hungarian authorities stated they do not intend to prosecute him. Similar stances have been taken by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who cited Israel’s non-membership in the ICC as a basis for disregarding its decisions, with France, Poland, and Romania also holding similar views. The Hungarian government has considered withdrawing from the ICC, a possibility discussed by international lawyer Tamás Hoffmann, which would require a parliamentary vote and would exempt Hungary from future cooperation with the court. This stance is seen as a signal to the EU and international community, contrasting with previous commitments made by member states regarding ICC cooperation.

The ICC’s response to Hungary’s non-recognition of the warrant indicated that it relies on member states for enforcement and cannot unilaterally judge the validity of its legal decisions. The article also mentions similar issues in Italy, where a Libyan commander was released instead of being detained despite an ICC warrant. Conversely, there is greater alignment regarding war crimes committed in Ukraine; Lithuania has actively supported the ICC investigation into these crimes, emphasizing the need for justice for victims and warning against attempts to undermine the court’s work. The Lithuanian government affirmed its commitment to enforcing ICC decisions concerning Israel, stating that if Netanyahu visited Lithuania, he would be arrested according to protocol. Poland also shows a nuanced position regarding Israel, allowing Netanyahu free travel despite obligations to arrest him in connection with Holocaust commemorations, viewing this as a gesture of respect for the Jewish people.

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